Debbie patted Morgan comfortingly as she went to prepare an antacid. “Here,” she said, handing him the glass of bubbling effervescence. “And from my point of view, you did everything right. Yesterday, when it mattered, Buddy came through. And I don’t want any of you to forget it. Do you hear me?”

Cole heard the strain in her voice and knew that yesterday had been a nightmare for them all. He watched her closely, searching her features for proof of his worst fears. He saw nothing but a small frown. And all he heard was a gentle warning that Buddy was not to be mistreated.

“I love my brother,” Cole said gruffly. “But I don’t have to love his cooking. Come on, we’ll get something to eat on the way.”

“Where are we going?” she asked as she headed out of the kitchen to get her purse and shoes.

“To the hospital.”

His short answer sent her running to comply.

Chapter 11

Cole walked into the waiting area. His stomach lurched as Tina turned dull, lifeless eyes their way.

“What happened?” He could tell that last night had been rough.

“He took a turn for the worse around four this morning,” she said. “They have him stabilized now, but for a while…”

Her lips trembled as she crawled up to a sitting position. She kicked the blanket the nurses had provided for her to the end of the couch and ran her fingers through her hair, smiling weakly as Debbie sat down beside her.

“I shouldn’t have left,” Cole said. A wave of guilt swept over him as he remembered where he’d spent the night…and how. Why should he have been enjoying life when Rick was fading?

“What would you have done?” Tina asked sharply. “Bullied the doctors? Cried harder than I did? Killed some one else?”

The color faded from her face. She clasped her fingers to her lips to call back the words, but it was too late. “Oh my God,” she moaned, and jumped to her feet. She wrapped her arms around Cole’s waist and buried her face against his chest. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You know my mouth—it has no brain, only a mechanism that makes it flap.”

Debbie was sick. The look on Cole’s face—if he’d been slapped, he couldn’t have been more shocked. She wanted to shake Tina Garza, but knew that her words had come from exhaustion and fear. There was nothing she could do now but let Tina make her apologies and hope that when this was over, Cole had survived.

“It’s okay, honey,” Cole said, and patted her shoulder. He felt the slight protrusion of her belly pushing against him. It was only a reminder that Rick Garza had too much to live for to lose it now. “Last night was hell on everyone.”